Nelson defends against 3

Oct. 24, 2012

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson spoke to the Economic Club of Florida luncheon at the Silver Slipper on Wednesday. He is up for re-election next year and has been targeted by the Republicans for defeat. / Glenn Beil

Written by

Arek Sarkissian II

Florida Capital Bureau

Bill Gaylor

Chris Borgia

Age: 33 Hometown: Fort Lauderdale Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Florida Occupation: Candidate Community Involvement: None listed Family: Never married, no children Political party registration: Never had party affiliation Fundraising (as of July 24):Raised: $11,621 Spent: $11,427 Campaign website: chrisborgia.com Age: 64 Hometown: Born in Kearney, Neb. First moved to Brevard County in the 1950s. Education: Bachelor’s from the University of South Florida Occupation: Insurance agency owner Family: Married with five children. Political party registration: Republican Community Involvement: First Baptist Church of Indialantic. Fundraising (as of July 24): Raised: $8,005 Spent: $7,487 Campaign website: floridaforbill.com Age: 45 Hometown: Fort Myers Education: Bachelor’s, University of Florida Occupation: US. Representative Community Involvement: None listed Family: Married to U.S. Rep. Mary Bono, of California. Two children from a previous marriage Fundraising (Since July 24): Raised: $3,378,682 Spent: $2,419,809 Campaign website: conniemack.com Age: 70 Hometown: Miami Education: Bachelor’s from Yale University. Law degree from University of Virginia Occupation: U.S. Senator Community Involvement: None listed Family: Married to Grace Cavert, two children Political party registration: Democrat Fundraising (Since July 24): Raised: $10,515,232 Spent: $4,772,682 Campaign website: nelsonforsenate.com

Mack Connie Mack IV

This year, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson faces three competitors vying to unseat him from the position he has held since 2001.

One of the candidates is U.S. Rep Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Myers, whose father was replaced by Nelson when he retired in 2000.

Nelson, D-Orlando, was first elected to state House in 1972. He was elected to U.S. House in 1978 and flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1986. Nelson also ran a failed bid for governor, but later was elected as treasurer and insurance commissioner in 1994.

Mack was elected to the state House in 2000 and won his U.S. House seat in 2004.

Nelson and Mack are joined in the senate race by non-party affiliates Chris Borgia and Bill Gaylor. Borgia, of Fort Lauderdale, said he chose to run because he found that a lot of people were frustrated with their representation in Washington, D.C.

“I’m in this race to give voters the choice,” Borgia said.

Borgia said he wants to help simplify government, from an easier tax code to a balanced budget.

Gaylor, of Melbourne, said he wants to grapple with misspending on Capitol Hill and help bring back the middle class. He also said current Florida leadership in Washington has lost sight of the people who voted them into office.

“Whenever government is involved, they’re taking over more of our lives,” Gaylor said. “And the state has been letting them take that power.”

Gaylor also questioned Mack’s attendance during House votes.

“If I had an employee like that, I would fire him,” Gaylor said. “We need new faces who want to show up.”